Al Khozama Garden is a large and lush garden situated in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, one of many such green spaces in the compound that offer some relief from the extreme summer temperatures. There wasn't a soul in the garden except us on this late afternoon visit, but families tend to come out in the evenings to picnic and enjoy the relative coolness of these beautifully designed and maintained parks.

A sign at the entrance states: “Al Khozama, known also as Horwoodia dicksoniae or Lavender, is a grassy aromatic plant known for its fragrance. It has reddish-blue or violet flowers. The plant is very decorative and is frequently used in the gardens, whereas in wildness it is the most favored pasture for sheep and camels.” I didn’t notice any lavender (although it could surely be there), but I was impressed by the abundance of bougainvillea in the park, so it's a bougainvillea garden for me!